Welcome

Thank you for visiting the Best Practices website! We are a partnership between Yale University and Unite Here Locals 34 and 35, addressing a variety of workplace and relationship-building opportunities.

Jane Savage, Director

In the last two years, we have built on the foundation begun in 2003. In addition to five departments that have continued Best Practices activities over several years, we are engaging the partnership in a variety of other ways: University and Union leaders are engaged in regular dialogue and problem-solving; with the help of two departments we’re building a new conflict resolution capacity in the University; and we’ve developed workshops that help managers gain labor relations skills and union leaders to engage with confidence in partnering activities.

But the best results we've had are the improved relationships we are establishing. I have been so inspired by the numerous examples of management and the unions coming together to identify their shared concerns and to make real, meaningful changes in the workplace. We hope you’ll take a minute to read about some of that work on our What We Do, News, and Success Stories Pages.

Many people tell us that they and their colleagues gain new knowledge and skills while engaged with Best Practices work. So we hope you will think of this initiative as an opportunity for growth, as well as a resource for promoting partnership and making positive changes. We offer a variety of training, consultation and facilitation services to existing partnerships in the Yale community. If you would like to learn more about that, please feel free to contact us directly. We’re here to help, and we hope you will be inspired to join us.